Extract from The Prelude Flashcards
Who wrote the extract from the prelude?
William Wordsworth
When was the prelude written?
1850
Provide context for the poem ‘the extract from the prelude’
It centres on Wordsworth’s childhood memory in the Lake District, where he steals a boat and rows it into the middle of the lake. A mountain by the lake grows far bigger than he thought it would be. He realises the monumental nature of the mountain and hurries back to shore, claiming the experience had changed how he sees nature.
Provide context of the writer ‘william Wordsworth‘
Wordsworth was a romantic poet who was born in Cumberland (Lake District). He had a difficult childhood, troubled relationships with father and other relatives and parents died during adolescence. He developed a deep affection for the Lake District as he spent so much time outdoors to escape his problems- influencing his reflective opinions shown in his writing.
What is the first quote to use from ‘the prelude’
One summer evening, (led by her) I found a little boat tied to a willow tree within a rocky cover, its usual home.
Analyse the first half of the first quote from The prelude ‘one summer evening, (led by her)’
The use of the singular noun ‘one’ suggests that this occurrence was a rarity and could only be experienced once. The parenthesis of the enclosed ‘led by her’ provides the reader with a sense of dramatic irony as they are aware that the persona’s action have been carried out by a larger force.
It may also be an allusion to Mother Nature and that nature can be seen as female in that it is responsible for the feminine task of creating, sustaining and nurturing life - just as a mother does.
By using personification, Wordsworth is able to contrast the role of nature to the role of a human - whilst women nurture a single child, nature nurtures an entire planet thus demonstrating its superior power. This use of juxtaposition shows that nature is above humans.
State the main methods in the first half of the first quote in the prelude — ‘one summer evening, (led by her)—
Singular noun of ‘one’
Use of parenthesis which encloses ‘led by her’
Personification of nature
Allusion of Mother Nature and it’s feminine nurturing- like a mother does.
Juxtaposes natures role with a women’s role in nurturing children — nature nurtures a planet, women nurtures just a handful of children.
Sense of dramatic irony as we know the personas actions have been carried out by a larger and intangible force.
Analyse the second half of the girth quote from the prelude — ‘i found a little boat tied to a willow tree within a rocky cove, its usual home’
The use of the emotive noun ‘willow tree’ creates a sense of comfort and life, which allows the reader to experience tranquility before the events of the poem unfold. The adjective ‘usual’, reinforcing the idea that this event could only be experienced once as the boat had not be moved, suggests the boar was fascinating due to nobody finding it or moving it.
State the second quote to use from the prelude
She was an elfin pinnace; lustily I dipped my oars into the silent lake, and, as I rose upon the stroke, my boat Went heaving through the water like a swan.
Analyse the first part of the second quote ‘she was an elfin pinnace; lustily I dipped my oars into the silent lake, and, as I rose upon the stroke’
The metaphor ‘elfin pinnace’ suggests the boat is mysterious and otherworldly as an ‘elfin pinnace’ quite literally means a fairy boat - adding to the magical quality within the start of the poem.
Personification of the boat.
The adverb ‘lustily’ suggests the persona is experiencing a strong force. The noun ‘stroke’ derives a sense of delicacy.
Analyse the second half of the second quote ‘my boat went heaving through the water like a swan’
The active verb ‘heaving’ connotes sustained intense physical effort. The illusion of control is broken as the mountain rises from the water, and natures supremacy is apparent. The simile ‘like a swan’ signifies the graceful and effortless movement of the boat, despite the dangerous mountain emerging
Analyse x4 thé third quotation ‘for so it seemed, with purpose of its own, and measured motion like a living thing, strode after me’
-writes in short subordinate clauses which creates a sense of uncertainty and confusion within the persona.
-the use of the simile ‘like a living thing’ could imply that the speaker is now choosing to personify nature but is above his level; as something otherworldly.
-juxtaposes the idea of the mountain being nonhuman (it’s) but also human (like a living thing, strode after me)
-the verb ‘strode’ is very bold and implies a lot of strength, demonstrating the power of the mountain.
What is the third quote to use from the prelude
For so it seemed, with purpose of its own, and measured motion like a living thing, strode after me.
What is the final quote to use from the prelude
But huge and mighty forms, that do not live like living men, moved slowly through the mind By day, and were a trouble to my dreams
Analyse the first half of the final quote ‘but huge and mighty forms, that do not live like living men,’
The reinforcement of the two adjectives, ‘huge’ and ‘mighty’ exemplifies natured strength and divinity, as it has been called as ‘forms’.
The speaker also thinks that he is in control’ performing an ‘act of stealth’ but is really following nature. Therefore the simile ‘like living men’ suggests that Wordsworth could be presenting that mankind believes that it is always in control, but is always subject to nature, as suggested by this simile.
